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The Sediment and Particulate Organic Carbon Cycle of Lake Melville, Labrador: a Fjard Estuary Undergoing Hydrologic and Climatic Change

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The Sediment and Particulate Organic Carbon Cycle of Lake Melville, Labrador: a Fjard Estuary Undergoing Hydrologic and Climatic Change The Sediment and Particulate Organic Carbon Cycle of Lake Melville, Labrador: a Fjard Estuary undergoing Hydrologic and Climatic Change by Christina Michelle Kamula A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Environment and Geography University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2015 by C. Michelle Kamula ABSTRACT To evaluate potential impacts of anthropogenic and climatic changes on Lake Melville, a fjard estuary that receives runoff from the Churchill River in Labrador, modern sedimentological processes, sources, and distribution of sediment and particulate organic carbon (POC) were investigated in recently deposited sediment (i.e., last 100-150 yrs.). This investigation showed that the Churchill River is the dominate source of sediment and terrestrial POC to the Lake Melville system, which could double following the proposed hydroelectric development on the Lower Churchill River. An examination of the sedimentary record revealed an increase in terrestrial POC deposited in recent years, implying increased delivery of terrestrial POC to the system since 1970. Box-model budgets quantified sources, sinks, and losses of sediment and terrestrial and marine POC to Lake Melville that can be used to assess changes to the system in the future from hydroelectric development and ongoing climatic change. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Zou Zou Kuzyk for her continuous support, guidance, encouragement, and positivity, and for providing me with the amazing opportunity to work in Labrador. The mentorship I received from Dr. Kuzyk motivate me to do better science but also helped me gain more confidence to continue pursuing a career in Arctic science. I would also like to thank Dr. Kuzyk and Dr. Gary Stern for supporting me as I pursued opportunities beyond my thesis work that allowed me to connect with Northerners and some of the finest scientists in Arctic research. I am extremely grateful for the expertise and support I received from Dr. Robie Macdonald throughout the entire project but especially during the writing process. Thank you to Dr. David Lobb for assistance with data analysis and for his enthusiasm and guidance. I thank R. Laing, Captain C. Bannister and crew of R/V Nuliajuk, Captain J. Angnakok and crew of M/V What’s Happening, A. Eastwood, Dr. Kuzyk, C. Webb, and A. Schartup for assistance in the field. Thank you to E. Slavicek, M. Yun, and M. Soon for their assistance with lab work. Special thanks to E. Wiley for logistical support and to Dr. McCullough for helping answering many science questions. I thankfully acknowledge Tom Sheldon (Nunatsiavut) and Trevor Bell (MUN) for their commitment to Inuit health and well-being which led them to develop the project Lake Melville: Avativut, Kanuittailinnivut (Our Environment, Our Health) for which this research contributes to. Financial support from ArcticNet, NSTP, UMGF, and financial support from Dr. Kuzyk is gratefully acknowledged. I sincerely thank my family, especially my father Don Kamula, and friends at U of M and elsewhere for their support and encouragement. Finally, I thank Tom Guenther for his unceasing support and patience! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ iii LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 : General Introduction ................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Sediment and organic carbon cycling in coastal environments ............................................. 1-1 1.3 Radionuclide Approach ......................................................................................................... 1-5 1.4 Study area and incentive for research .................................................................................... 1-9 1.5 Project overview and funding .............................................................................................. 1-13 1.6 Thesis objectives .................................................................................................................. 1-14 1.7 Thesis overview ................................................................................................................... 1-15 1.8 References ............................................................................................................................ 1-15 Chapter 2 : Patterns and Sources of Sediment and Particulate Organic Carbon in Lake Melville, 210 137 13 Labrador, Canada: Inferences from Pb, Cs, and δ C .......................................................... 2-1 2.1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2-2 2.3 Study area............................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.3.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.3.2 Geological Setting ....................................................................................................... 2-6 2.3.3 Hydrology and oceanography..................................................................................... 2-7 2.4 Methods.................................................................................................................................. 2-8 2.4.1 Sample collection ........................................................................................................ 2-8 2.4.2 Radiochemical analysis ............................................................................................ 2-10 2.4.3 Calculation of sedimentation and mass accumulation rates .................................... 2-12 210 137 2.4.4 Pbex and Cs inventories ..................................................................................... 2-14 13 2.4.5 Organic carbon and δ Corg measurements .............................................................. 2-16 2.4.6 Calculation of the percentage of terrestrial and marine organic carbon ................ 2-16 3.4.7 Modelling of organic carbon .................................................................................... 2-17 2.5 Results .................................................................................................................................. 2-18 2.5.1 Porosity profiles ........................................................................................................ 2-18 2.5.2 210Pb, 226Ra, and 137Cs radiochemistry ..................................................................... 2-20 iv 2.5.3 Sedimentation and Mass Accumulation Rates .......................................................... 2-26 210 137 2.5.4 Inventories of Pbex and Cs ................................................................................ 2-29 2.5.5 Distribution and profiles of organic carbon and δ13C .............................................. 2-31 2.6 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 2-34 2.6.1 Overview ................................................................................................................... 2-34 2.6.2 Inputs of riverine sediment inferred from mass accumulation rates ........................ 2-34 2.6.3 Indications of riverine inputs, focusing, and boundary scavenging from 137Cs and 210 Pbex inventories .............................................................................................................. 2-38 13 2.6.4 Terrestrial and marine influence on sediment composition inferred from δ Corg ... 2-42 13 2.6.5 Inferences of Change from Profiles of δ Corg and OC............................................. 2-44 2.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 2-46 2.8 References ............................................................................................................................ 2-48 Chapter 3 : Sediment and particulate organic carbon budgets of Lake Melville, Labrador ........ 3-1 3.1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3-2 3.3 Study Area ............................................................................................................................. 3-5 3.4 Methods.................................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.4.1 General approach ......................................................................................................
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